What did you do to your bike today?

[bonio]

Felixstowe!

[oudafuq]

19 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

Lovely looking machine, do you have luggage for her? 

I have givi set, prob only use top box mainly though so will remove the scaffolding short term to give it a spruce up 

[oudafuq]

18 hours ago, bonio said:

Felixstowe!

Pic taken at shotley marina, great views of Felixstowe and harwich 

[bonio]

I took the DRZ out for its MOT a couple of weeks back, had the bright (pun intended) idea of checking the lights. Tail light not working, so cancelled the MOT. Today's the first day I had time to work on it.

Found what seemed to be the problem. It didn't take a lot of fiddling about with it for another crimped connection to break so I thought the time had come to get the soldering iron and the heatshrink out and do a proper fix. Really delighted to get it all working.

Gutted to find that the headlight now isn't working. Doh.

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

On 20/03/2024 at 17:07, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I have fitted the spinger seat for COC Customs, very impressive bit of kit, it's totally invisible.

 

Then I thought I'd fit the progressive springs and preload caps from TEC. They say that the new springs are shorter than the originals so are easy to fit with the preload caps. But no - the springs are longer and it proved to be impossible to fit them without putting the forks in a workmate so I could put all my weight onto them to get the caps to fit. 

 

 

they are shorter because the coils are tighter packed, stronger but also thicker. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

1 hour ago, RideWithStyles said:

they are shorter because the coils are tighter packed, stronger but also thicker. 

But in reality they are longer. 

[RideWithStyles]

but in reality your forcing/fighting a stronger spring which makes it more difficult without better tools or techniques.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

4 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

but in reality your forcing/fighting a stronger spring which makes it more difficult without better tools or techniques.

Exactly,  which is why I am in conversation with TEC because when I told them the fight I was having they suggested it might need the spacer cutting down. But with other Triumph kits they provide spacers when needed. 

 

The thing is that it makes the adjustable preload caps pointless because there's no negative adjustment left. 

[RideWithStyles]

On 22/03/2024 at 18:19, bonio said:

I took the DRZ out for its MOT a couple of weeks back, had the bright (pun intended) idea of checking the lights. Tail light not working, so cancelled the MOT. Today's the first day I had time to work on it.

Found what seemed to be the problem. It didn't take a lot of fiddling about with it for another crimped connection to break so I thought the time had come to get the soldering iron and the heatshrink out and do a proper fix. Really delighted to get it all working.

Gutted to find that the headlight now isn't working. Doh.

 

 

see bullet clips are just shite, so much better now! now i will say that is a poor job done but still the same.

 

got slated when mentioned not to use bullet clips but a proper fixed solder solution is just better on a different thread.

[fastbob]

Started both of mine up . The ER5 fired up straight away despite being outside for months. The Harley has a semi flat front tyre which is puzzling because it's a tube type  . Easily fixed if it actually turns out to be a puncture  .

[RideWithStyles]

20 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Exactly,  which is why I am in conversation with TEC because when I told them the fight I was having they suggested it might need the spacer cutting down. But with other Triumph kits they provide spacers when needed. 

 

The thing is that it makes the adjustable preload caps pointless because there's no negative adjustment left. 

sounds silly but did you wind the preload adjusters fully out too proir to fitting the caps? how thick are the washers?

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

3 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

sounds silly but did you wind the preload adjusters fully out too proir to fitting the caps? how thick are the washers?

Yes, the caps were fully up. There's only one slim washer between the spacer and the spring. The spacer then sits directly under the cap. 

[RideWithStyles]

metal or plastic? you could cut them down to make a difference that the spring makes due to its length and strength. so if the spacer is 10cm and the spring is 2cm difference and you had the preload at say 7 or more out of ten applied previously -how much difference does each line/wind does it do to the spring? 1-2mm? you could minus those off the spacer too to help counter the new spring.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

13 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

metal or plastic? you could cut them down to make a difference that the spring makes due to its length and strength. so if the spacer is 10cm and the spring is 2cm difference and you had the preload at say 7 or more out of ten applied previously -how much difference does each line/wind does it do to the spring? 1-2mm? you could minus those off the spacer too to help counter the new spring.

I could but since TEC supply new spacers with some of their Triumph spring kits I'm suggesting they need to supply them with the Bobber kit. 

 

TEC actually said the the preload caps would offer no negative adjustment because they need to be fully wound out to install them with the progressive springs. So they know there's an issue. Still waiting to hear back from them. 

[Nick the wanderer]

12 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I could but since TEC supply new spacers with some of their Triumph spring kits I'm suggesting they need to supply them with the Bobber kit. 

 

TEC actually said the the preload caps would offer no negative adjustment because they need to be fully wound out to install them with the progressive springs. So they know there's an issue. Still waiting to hear back from them. 

They look too long the new springs, TEC only supply brought in products like Wirth etc. Have you the right springs for your model?

Brooks suspension is a good place to check what fits. https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/#

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

6 hours ago, Nick the wanderer said:

They look too long the new springs, TEC only supply brought in products like Wirth etc. Have you the right springs for your model?

Brooks suspension is a good place to check what fits. https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/#

They are springs TEC sent me for the Bobber. Other Bobber owners say that they have found exactly the same issue. 

 

I'll check the details at Brookes.

[Simon Davey]

Do quad bikes count????

 

Ours was leaking fuel from the carb overflow, a sign that the float or, float needle had jammed open.

Got the seat off, to discover a cheap and skanky little Chinese carb that the menders had put on there, groan, no wonder it's being a problem after just an hour's use.

Pulled the bowl off, shed loads of brake cleaner on the jammed float needle, and lots of rattling the floats to make sure it was freed. that did the trick.

Got it all back together, and after battling with the leaking fuel hose, it's running sweetly again.

Probably for another hour......

 

Also, had trouble getting the seat to click on. 
So there I am, wondering why it won't latch, and it turns out the eeejits that serviced it and fitted the cheap carbs, had also fitted the battery strut around the wrong way, which is also the strut that the seat latches into. FFS....

 

This is the same place I bought my ZZR from, so it's now no surprise to me that she had deflated and misshapen tyres, and has little in the way of front pads, and also happens to be leaking brake juice from somewhere 

[Pie man]

Oil and filter change, brake fluid change, chain checked along with the other 500 or so checks the KTM dealer so called does at the service. 

Just clocked over 4200 miles in the last 12 months, probable put another 1K before my trip. Now the question is 'do I replace the tyres before the tour in May'. I have read reports of people riding  9K with the Avon Trailriders before changing them.   

[bonio]

Took the MV to the dealer yesterday for a service and some warranty work today. Didn't hear from them today, so I can't pick up the bike tomorrow morning, which means they're going to have to keep it until after the weekend. With the DRZ, the first date I could get for an MOT was Tuesday.

So it's a Bikeless Weekend ahead.  

[curlylegend]

6 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I'll check the details at Brookes.

A good firm to deal with in my experience.

[S-Westerly]

On 27/03/2024 at 14:42, Pie man said:

Oil and filter change, brake fluid change, chain checked along with the other 500 or so checks the KTM dealer so called does at the service. 

Just clocked over 4200 miles in the last 12 months, probable put another 1K before my trip. Now the question is 'do I replace the tyres before the tour in May'. I have read reports of people riding  9K with the Avon Trailriders before changing them.   

Check your tyres. If they've still got decent tread after 5000 miles they may well be decent for your tour. Personally I've yet to get much more than 5000 miles from a rear tyre but it depends on how you ride etc.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

A result with my front fork saga. TEC have emailed to say that from now on they will include new spacers with the kit for the Bobber. And they will provide me with a set cut to suit my measurements.  

[Simon Davey]

Yes, excellent result. 

[Gerontious]

Wash and brush up and some time with the cover off. Once the breeze has dried it off I’ll give the chain a light coating of oil as it’s not going to move for another 3 weeks.

 

 

 

But. Woe. Trauma. Rust on the exhaust hanger!! I’m not sure if I need to go and lie down in a darkened room. Fall to the floor and foam at the mouth. Or break out the brandy.

 

maybe all three.

 

the horror. It’s a Scorpion part. So there’s that. But… even so. It’s ruined my day. Sigh.

 

Edited March 29, 2024 by Gerontious

[Gerontious]

No paint and I can’t be bothered with it today. So instant cure. 

 

painted it with gear oil. In the nick of time too. It’s just starting to rain. Rain spots on my shiny bike. It’s just one thing after another. Anyway the rust is cunningly disguised until I can be motivated.